" BELTS OF WOOD." 



411 



into Ashes' Lake, a large sheet of water to the north of 

 the trail, meander through this dreary prairie ; timber is 

 only found in the form of small aspens, on low ridges or 

 near ponds. 



The 14th brought us to a better country, still undu- 

 lating, yet containing many beautiful lakelets fringed 

 with aspens. The soil is light and the herbage scanty, a 

 fit introduction to the " Carry Wood Plain," which lies at 

 the foot of the Touchwood Hills. From a low gravelly 

 ridge forming the north-western boundary of the Carry 

 Wood Plain, the Indian guide pointed out a hill towards 

 the south-west, which he said w T as close to Long or Last 

 Mountain Lake, already stated in a former chapter to 

 join with the Qu'appelle at the Grand Forks. 



August 15th. — In journeying from the Lumpy Hill we 

 crossed three " belts of woods," as the Indian guide termed 

 them, before arriving at the great prairie west of the 

 Touchwood Hills. These belts, which consist of groves 

 of small aspen following a low gravelly ridge about a 

 mile broad, and having a north-east and south-west di- 

 rection, are separated by prairie valleys which sustain in 

 their lowest parts a good soil and fine pasturage. Each 

 belt diminished to a point some ten or fifteen miles south- 

 west of our track. The points or termination of these 

 belts are visible from the summit of mounds on our 

 trail, not more than fifty feet high ; beyond them is a 

 treeless prairie, stretching away to the South Branch. 

 The " belts of wood " become broader in a north-easterly 

 direction until they merge into the wooded country be- 

 tween the Birch Hills and the Saskatchewan. There are 

 many delightful spots in the belts, the herbage is clean 

 as a well shaven lawn, the clumps of aspen are neatly 

 rounded as if by art, and, where little lakes alive with 

 water-fowl abound, the scenery is very charming, and 



